Wander Braga

Professor Wander Braga, 4th degree black belt. Biography coming soon.

Wander "The Crusher" Braga is a jiu-jitsu practitioner for 26 years, having been an apprentice of the legendary master Rickson Gracie and being formed as black belt by Master Jorge Pereira 17 years ago. Throughout more than two decades of experience, Wander resided for more than 10 years in Los Angeles, where he promoted many fights and taught in-depth classes and training sessions at the LA Boxing Club and LA Xtreme academy for four years, Homeland Security Department and at the prestigious Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). He founded the gyms MMA Fight Forum and Gauntlet BJJ / MMA, and he is the master of UFC fighter Gabriel "Napão" Gonzaga.

Jerbo Nerney

Professor Jerbo Nerney began his martial arts training in 1994 at The Alliance Group (Personal Protection Agency) where he studied Ninpo Tiajutsu and obtained a Personal Protection Agent Certificate from the State of California. Professor Nerney began training Muay Thai in 1995 with Brain Dobbler of the Thai Boxing Association of the United States. During that same period he was training with Richard Van Donk in Escrima and Ninjitsu and obtained his second degree black belt.

Professor Nerney earned his first black belt in Budo Taijutsu in 1998. He obtained his second degree black belt and then trained in Japan with Soke (Grand Master) Hatsumi. after 13 years with Soke Hatsumi, he obtained his 6th degree black belt in Budo Taijitsu.
In 2007, he began training with Wander Braga at the Gauntlet BJJ Academy in Upland California. He has continued under Wander Braga to this day. Professor Nerney obtained his Brasilian Jiujitsu black belt in Brasil from Professor Wander Braga in Rio de Janeiro in 2013.

Iggy Sanchez

Iggy Sanchez is our head Muay Thai and Kickboxing instructor. He has over ten years of training in the sport of Muay Thai and MMA. He studied the art of Muay Thai for five years directly under Master Thonglor, and has also trained and instructed in top academies such as Team Alpha Male in Sacramento California and American Top Team in Long Island, New York. He took his passion for instructing to Queens, New York, where he opened his own Muay Thai and Crossfit Gym. He ran his successful business for almost five years before moving back to California to be closer to family. Iggy has now made Upland MMA his home where he coaches our Professional and Amateur fight team. His experience allows him to work with a wide range of students including kids, beginners, intermediate and advanced. Iggy is also a Nationally Certified Fitness and Sports Trainer and is well experienced in working with athletes on strength and condition as well as fight preparation.

Nathaniel Raney

Nathaniel Raney, is the assistant instructor of the Muay Thai and kids classes. He has had a love of martial arts since he was child after watching the Jean-Claude movies and old Ramon Dekkers fights. He began his training under Professor Nerney in late 2010. Nathaniel is a four stripe white belt under Professor Nerney and hopes to earn his blue belt soon to also make his amateur kickboxing debut in the near future.